Boat-launching device for ships.



C. A. RICHTER. BOAT LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR SHIPS. l APPLICATION FILED ms. I5. I9Is.

Patented Oct. 10,1916.

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C. A. RICHTER. BOAT LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR SHIPS. APPLICATION man rss. 15. 191s.

Patented Oct. 10,1916.

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c. A. RIQHTER. BOAT LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I5, |916.

1 ,200,986. Patented oen 10,1916.

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monwfrs C. A; RICHTER. BOAT LAUNCHING DEvlcEFoB sHlPs.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l5. 1916.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

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nnirED sTAtrEs PATENT oEEioE. CHARLES A. RICHTER, OF GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DUNCAN A. MGDONALD, OF GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN.

BOAT-LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR SHIPS.

Application filed February 15, 1916.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. RICHTER,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Grand Haven, in the county of Ottawa and State of' Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Boat-Launching Device for Ships, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved boat launching device for use on board of passenger carrying steamers and other ships,'and arranged to permit of quicklylaunching a number of boats successively on either side of the ship and without danger of upsetting the boats while lowering the same.

In order to accomplish the desired result, use is made of a carrier extending transversely of the ship and adaptedto support a number of boats one alongside the other7 means for imparting a traveling motion to the carrier in either direction, a transferring device for each end of the carrier to receive the boat from the corresponding end thereof and to move the boat beyond the side of the ship, and raising and lowering devices on the sides of the ship and adapted to receive a boat from the corresponding transferring device for lowering the boat to the surface of the water.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying draw.- ings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a cross section of a ship vprovided with the improved boat launching device; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the lowering devices; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same in extended position; Fig. 6 is a similar view of the same folded alongside of the ship; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the turning and locking device for the post of the lowering device; Fig. 8 is a side elevation ofthe transferring device; Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of a portion of the endless carrier and a pair of chocks for supporting a boat; and Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the windlasses.

Across the deck of a ship 10 extends a pair of beams 11 supported by suitable brackets l2 from the sides of the ship 1 0, as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Serial No. 78,422.

. in eitherl direction.

The endless carriers 13 are provided at their upper runs with pairs of chocks 20, two pairs onv the carriers being in longitudinal alinement to support a boat 2l, it being understood that by thel arrangement described a number of bo-ats are supported on the endless carrier one alongside the other. Each of the pair of chocks 2O consists of two members 22 (see Fig. 9) pivotally connected at their adjacent ends 23 on corresponding links of the carrier 13 and the said chock members 22 are supported near their outer ends by drops 24 pivoted at one end to the members 22 and having their other ends in the form of forks 25 straddling the links on the endless carrier 13. Thus by the arrangement described either `of the members 22 can be readily swung into lowermost position by disconnecting the corresponding drop 24 from thecarrier chain. Each of the drops 24 is provided with a turnbuckle to permit of conveniently lengthening and shortening the drop to insure proper contact of the chock members 22 with the sides of the boat 21 for supporting thev latter.

At each end of the endless carrier is arranged a transferring device 30 for receiving a boat from the corresponding end of the endless carrier and projecting it beyond the corresponding side of the'ship 10 for engagement by a lowering device 50 for delivering the boat to the surface of the water at the corresponding side of' the ship.

'Each transferring device is arranged as follows: Each transferring device has two longitudinally extending beams 31 arranged alongside the beams 11 and mounted to slide transversely on rollers 32, as plainly indiv cated in Figs. 1 and 8. The inner ends of the beams 31 are provided on top with racks 33 in mesh with pinions 34 secured on longitudinally extending shafts 35 journaled in suitable bearings arranged on the beams 11. The ends of the shafts 35 are provided with hand wheels 36 under the control of operators for turning the shafts 35 and consequently the pinions 34 with a view to move the beams 31 of the corresponding transferring device simultaneously 'outward or inward according to the direction in which the shaft 35 is turned at the time. On the outer ends of the beams 31 are mounted 'checks 40 for supporting a boat received from the endless carrier 13, and each chock ,40 is provided with a fixed chock member 41 and an outer chock member 42 pivoted at its'inner end at 43 on the corresponding .beam 31. The free end of the chock mem- `ber 42 is connected bya link 44 with a lever 45 fulcrumed on the beam 31 and under the control of an operator for impartposts 51 are provided near their upper and lower ends with pintles 52 engaging bearings 53.attached to the sides of the ship to allow of swinging each post from normal position alongside the ship into an outer position atright angles to the ship, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 5 and 6. The lower ends of the posts 51 extend within a short distance of the surface 1 of the water in which the ship 10 floats. On each post is mounted to Slide up and down an extension 54 preferably in the form of a sleeve. On each sleeve 54 is mounted to slide up and down a cradle 55, and the two cradles on each side of the ship are adapted to engage the under side of the `boat 21 held in outermost position by the corresponding transferring device 30 to lift this boat 0H the transferring device and to allow of returning the transferring device to innermost position, after which the boat 21 supported on the two cradles 55 at this side of the ship can be lowered to the surface of the water. Flachjextension 54 is provided at its upper and lower ends with projections '56 and 57.4 Each of the cradles 55 is provided with two bearings 58, 59, of which the uppermostbearing 58 is adapted to engage the top projection 56 of the extension 54 to raise the latter on the post 51 at the time the cradle 55 is raised. The bearing 59 ofthe cradle 55 is adapted to engage the projection 57 at the time the cradle is low` ered so that the extension 54 is caused to slide downward on the post 51 whereby the cradle 55 is lowered below the surface of thewater, as indicated to the left in Fig. 1, to allow the boat carried at the time to readily float 01T on the water free of the cradles. Each of the cradles 55 is attached to one end of a rope, cable `or chain^60 extending over a pulley 61 journaled in the upper end of the corresponding post 51, the rope, cable or chain then passing to a windlass of any approved construction and mounted on the deck of the ship 10. The windlass 70 is used for raising or lowering the cradle and to hold the same at any one deck of the ship 10 for loading the boat 21supported at the cradle with passengers to be lowered with the boat. Each windlass 70 is for the purpose mentioned provided with a suitable brake or locking mechanism 71, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 10.

On the upper pintle 52 of the post 51 is pivoted a handle in alinement with the corresponding cradle 55. The handle 80 is adaptedto be taken hold of by an operator for imparting a turning motion to the post 51 to swing the cradle 55 alongside the ship when the launching device is not in use, or to turn the post 51 with a view to swing the cradle55 outward into a right angled position relatively to the ship whenever it is desired to use the launching device for lowering the boats. The handle 80 when the cradle is in the extended position extends inward and engages a keeper 81 attached to the corresponding side of the ship to hold the post 51 and the cradle 55 locked in this position.

The operation is as follows: Normally the boats 21 are supported on `the chocks 20 of the carrier, and two boats may also be supported on the chocks 40 of the transferring devices 30 thus accommodating a large number of boats one alongside the other on the deck of the ship. The cradles 55 are normally in folded position alongside the ship with the extensions 54 held in uppermost position, as plainly indicated to the right of Fig. 1. Vhen it is desired to launch the Vboats on either side of the ship then the corresponding lowering device 50 is made use of and for this purpose the posts 51 on this sideof the ship are turned by the handles 80 and locked in place in the eX- tended position by engaging the handles 80 with the keepers 81, as plainly shown in Figs. 5 and 7. In case `the boats are to be launched on the left-hand side of the ship then the transferring device 30 at the lefthand side is moved outward with the boat 21 supported thereon to locate this boat directly above the cradles 55 on this side of the ship. The left-hand windlasses 70 are now actuated to` raise the cradles 55 so that the latter finally engage the boat 21 and lift the same out of the chocks 40 of this lefthand transferring device 30. The movable member 42 of the left-hand chock 40 is now swung downward so that it clears the under side of the boat and this transferring device i a l c .1s now moved back to innermost position `70 at this side of the boatk are actuated to raise the empty cradles 55 to previous position, and in the meantime the shaft 16 has been turned to actuate the carrier 13 with a view to carry the boats 21 supported by the carrier toward the left side of the ship,

when the outermost boat is pushed by hand from the chock 2O onto the choclrs 40 of the transferring device 30,' on the left-hand side of the ship, after which this transferring device is moved outward to locate this boat directly above the cradles 55 which are now raised to lift this second boat out of the choclrs 40, and the above-described operation is then repeated, that is, the boat is lowered and allowed to fioat off, after which the cradles 55 are raised again and the carrier 13 is actuated to deliver the next boat to the returned transferring device 30, after which the latter is moved outward with its boat to be engaged by the cradles 55 as above explained.

It is understood that the boats may be delivered to either side of the. vessel and lowered on Vthis side, and likewise more boats may be moved to one side of the vessel and others maybe moved to the opposite side to accommodate all the passengers at both sides of the ship.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A boat launching device for ships, comprising a carrier extending transversely of the ship and adapted to support a number of boats one alongside the other, means for imparting movement to the carrier for the latter to carrythe boats successively to one side of the ship, a transferring device at the delivery end of the said carrier for receiving a boat .and carrying the same beyond the side of the ship, guide posts on the side of the ship next to the said transferring device, post extensions slidable up` and down on the said posts and having stops at their ends, and cradles mounted to slide up and down on the said post extensions, and raising and lowering means connected with the cradle, whereby the post extensions will be raised and lowered when the cradle is raised and lowered.

2. A boat launching device for ships, comprising a carrier extending transversely of the ship and adapted to support a number of boats one alongside the other, means for imparting movement to the carrier for the latter to carry the boats successively to one side of the ship, a transferring device at the delivery end of the said carrier for receiving a boat and carrying the same beyond the side of the ship, guide posts pivoted to the side of the ship next to the said transferring device to lie alongside of the ship or to project therefrom and extending within a distance of the surface of the water, post extensions slidable upand down on the said posts, and cradles mounted to slide up and down on the said post extensions and to move the latter along.

3. A boat launching device for ships, comprising a carrier extending transversely of the ship and adapted to support a number of boats one, alongside the other, means for imparting movement to the carrier for the latter to carry the boats successively to one side of theship, a transferring device at the delivery end of the said carrier for receiving a boat and carrying the same beyond the side of the ship, guide posts pivoted to the side of the ship next to the said transferring device and extending within a distance of the surface of the water, post extensions slidable up and down on the said posts, cradles mounted to slide up and dov/n on the said post extensions and to move the latter along, and windlasses mounted on the ship and connected with the saidv cradles to move the latter' up and down and with them the extensions.

l. A boat launching device for-ships, comprising a carrier extending transversely of the ship and adapted to support a number of boats one alongside the other, means for imparting 'movement to the carrier for the latter to carry the boats successively to one side of the ship, a transferring device at the delivery end of the said carrier for receiving a boat and carrying the same beyond the side of the ship, guide posts on the side of the s'hip next to the said transferring device, the said guide posts being mounted to swing to fold alongside the ship or be extended at right angles thereto, the said guide posts extending within a distance of the water, means for turning the said posts and locking the same when in extended position, post extensions slidable up and down on the said posts, cradles mounted to slide up and down on the said extensions and adapted to carry the same along, and windlasses mounted on the ship and connected with the said cradles to raise the latter and lift the boat off the transferring device to allow withdrawal of the latter and to then lower the cradles and the boat carried thereby until the boat floats on the surface of the water free of the cradles..

5. A launching device for ships, comprising an endless carrier mounted transversely on the ship and provided with spaced pairs of chocks for supporting a number of boats one alongside the other, beams mounted to travel transversely on the ship and provided with pairs of ehocks .for receiving and supporting a boat from one end of theJ said carrier, the beams when moved outwardly carrying the boat beyond the side of the ship, cradles, and raising and lowering means for the said cradles for the latter to lift the boat off the checks of the said beams to allow ywithdrawal of the latter and to then lower the boat to the surface of the water.

6. A launching device for ships, comprising an endless carrier mounted transversely on the ship and provided with spaced pairs of chocks for supporting a number of boats one alongside the other, beams mounted to travel transversely on the ship and provided with pairs of chocks for receiving and supporting a boat from one end of the said carrier, the beams when moved outwardly carrying the boat beyond the side of the ship, the outermost of the said latter chocks of each pair being pivoted to swing up and down, means for swinging the pivoted chock up or down and locking it normally in uppermost supporting position, cradles, and raising and lowering means for the said cradles for the latter to lift the boat off the chocks of thesaid beams to allow withdrawal of the latter and to then lower the boat to the surface of the water.

7 A boat launching device provided with lowering means for lowering the boat on a Vside of the ship, the said lowering means comprising a pairvof posts on the side of the ship and extending within a distance of the surface of the water, extensions slidable up and down on the posts and provided at their upper and lower ends with projections, said extensions when in their lowermost positions being below the lower ends of the post, cradles mounted to slide up and down on the said extensions and adapted to engage the said projections to carry the extensions along, and windlasses connected with the said cradles to raise and lower the same.

S. In a boat launching device, a carrier extending` transversely of the ship and adapted to support a number of boats, a sliding transferring device at each end of the carrier, for receiving the boats from the carrier7 and to move the boat beyond the side of the ship, each transferring device having chocks, one of which is pivoted, and a raising and lowering device on the sides of the ship.

9. In a boat launching device, endless carrier chains7 each provided with pairs of chocks, each pair consisting of members pivoted to the links of the chainl and adjustable drops havin@ one end pivoted to the members and the other end detachably engaging the links of the chain.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. RICHTER.

Witnesses HUGH P. MULLIGAN, WM. L. PHILLIPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

